China's factory activity growth in October missed market expectations, dragged down by a sharper drop in new export orders, as trade tensions with the U.S. intensified during the month, according to a private survey released Monday.

The RatingDog China General Manufacturing PMI, compiled by S&P Global, dropped to 50.6 in October from the six-month high of 51.2 in September, missing analysts' expectations of 50.9 in a Reuters poll.

New export orders fell at the quickest pace since May, which the survey respondents attributed to "rising trade uncertainty."

New business and output both expanded at slower rates in October compared to the previous month, with business confidence slipping to its lowest level in six months, the survey showed. "When assessing the one-year outlook for produc

See Full Page